Best road to trail running shoes of 2023: find your perfect balance

Of all the sub-categories of trail running shoes, these are the most versatile option for the majority of runners. While many of us wish we could run on nothing but soft woodland trails or mountain rocks, chances are you're gonna hit some road on your way to the good stuff.

Road to trail running shoes require a range of features; you’ll need cushioning for the road, but you’ll also need high-traction grip, rock protection, and a lot of durability. A true road shoe might be able to take on easy trails at the height of summer, but come autumn, you'll need a pair that offers some extra security in slippery conditions.

In addition to good grip, you'll also want a degree of stability to support you on uneven ground. This will likely come in the form of a plastic insert in the midsole, or even a carbon fibre plate, which we'll get into in the advice section at the end of this round-up.

Best road to trail running shoes at a glance:

Best in test: Asics Trabuco Max 2 – View on Sportsshoes

Best value: Altra Outroad – View on Sportsshoes

Best grip for wet weather: Salomon Sense Ride 5 – View on Decathlon

Best for long distances: Scarpa Spin Infinity – View on Sportsshoes

For our list, we've included a few winter trail running shoes as the cold is finally rolling in. But we've also picked a couple of lighter shoes that will perform better on the road and path sections of your run, provided you don't hit too much sludge!

Best road to trail running shoes in detail:

What to look for in a road to trail shoe

Carbon
For many of us, the road is all about running that bit quicker and there’s no argument carbon provides runners with more response harder, more uniform trails. Some will run faster, while some will benefit from the reduction in impact carbon provides. Yes, there’s a cost but it’s well worth the investment.

Breathability
In the same way you’d look for fabrics that breathe in t-shirts, go for materials that allow air and water vapour to escape from inside the shoe, while also allowing cooler air from outside to enter.

Weight
Of course, there’s no definitive weight in a running shoe as more than any other product, it’s very much individual. But, as a general rule, summer shoes are lighter and swifter feeling, so you’ll be thinking of shoes that weigh less than 300g for that rip roaring 10km PB. If you’re thinking long distance though, think about additional cushioning and therefore in some, but not all, additional weight, bringing the shoes into the mid-300s.

Toe box
The rocks will be there summer, or winter so look for protection in that department year round.

Drop
There’s almost a generational gap here. Older shoe models work off an 8mm-12mm drop for a higher, more cushioned ride while many of today’s shoes come in at around 4mm-6mm for a closer to the ground, faster feel. As with any shoe advice, it’s always about what feels good personally. In theory, it’s worth progression to lower drop shoes as they do feel quicker (half the job), but it can be at a cost for your calf muscles. There are lower drops as well with 0mm replicating barefoot. The jury is out at the moment as to what is best!

Midsole
EVA, PU, TPU or Pebax are the foams of choice for most brands. All offer softness and flexibility to different degrees.

Fit
There’s the traditional lacing system of course, but the Salomon system and the Boa fit in a variety of brands including La Sportiva and Adidas do offer superb stability on rough, steep terrain. Consider the surfaces you’ll be running. Tough descents and contouring lend themselves to this new fit system.

Lug length
Summer shoes will offer less in the grip department, so lugs around 3mm at the most, while winter shoes go all the way up to 6mm and even beyond on occasion. Rubber, of course, wears quicker so longer lug length shoes need to stay strictly off-road!

Do I need road to trail running shoes?

If you're thinking of exploring beyond pavements and paths, then learning all about trail running shoes is an important step, for your own safety as much as comfort. A sleek pair of road running shoes is are a couple of knee-scrap time bombs if you start to take them into wet and wild woodlands or uneven rocky terrain.

You need running shoes with extra protection to ward off errant rocks and roots, and lugs along the outsole (grippy spikes on the bottom) to latch onto the ground and help propel you forwards as you enjoy the trail.

But, of course, mostly everyone will need to contend with both road and trail on their everyday run routes, so investing in a road to trail shoe can make your runs much more enjoyable and smooth. They strike the perfect balance between cushioning, midsole impact absorption, and grip, to deliver a shoe that can cope with extended sections of road running as well as some mildly muddy and gentle trails.

How trail running shoes should fit

The size you choose for your next pair of trail running shoes really depends on what distance you're planning to run. We’re not suggesting you go crazy and order several sizes up from your usual digits, but it’s worth bearing in mind that as you run, four-times your bodyweight goes through your feet upon impact with the ground. That’s basically like repeatedly hitting the soles of your feet with a frying pan for the duration of your run.

Obviously, this is going to have an impact on your feet - they will swell. So to ensure you remain comfortable and rub-free, it’s worth sizing up 0.5-1 sizes on what you’re normally used to wearing, especially if you’re planning on running long distances.

Other than that, make sure if your feet are particularly wide you get a wide-fit shoe or look at brands like Altra whose shoes are designed with extra room in the toe-box. Equally, if your feet are extra narrow, you’ll need slimmer shoes like some Salomon ones, in order to still be able to achieve that locked-in, blister-free fit.

Caring for your road to trail running shoes

A bit of footwear care can seriously extend the lifespan of your outdoor gear. Keep fabrics clean to maintain breathability, and waterproof fabrics need reproofing every so often to maintain water repellency. Here are the main staples of our kit care collections...

How we tested these road to trail running shoes

The trail running footwear we test undergo thorough, real-world testing. As soon as they arrive with us, they get allocated to one of our experienced gear testers who take them through their paces over a range of of terrain and distances.

We consider myriad factors when testing and reviewing trail running footwear, from the obvious, such as comfort and performance, to the less obvious and intricate, such as sustainability.

The shoes in this group test were mostly put to work by our fearless run editor, Kate, in the hills of Bristol. A few also went to Milo and Chris, who run in the Surrey hills and the Yorkshire dales respectively. None of us live in the middle of the woods, sadly, so we all get a good mixture of road and trail running – rain or shine.

CLICK HERE for more info on how we test gear at LFTO.

Kate Milsom is Digital Content Writer for Live For The Outdoors, within which she specialises in trail running content. Kate is an ultra runner and triathlete, having previously worked on cycling and triathlon publications. Kate has been working for Live For The Outdoors since 2022.

For all the latest news, tips and gear reviews, sign up to the Trail Running Newsletter.